SA cruise to junior gold

As was widely expected, the SA junior team cruised to the gold medal, with a comfortable 7-wicket win over GB at Hadar Yosef yesterday. Benjamin Weiner took three early wickets to rock the GB top order, who would have been dismissed for less than 100 but for a brave last wicket stand of 25 which took the score to 110.

The SA opening pair of Adam Maserow and Anthony Mofsowitz (40) put on 85, and although Sebastian Schusman (three for 24) added two quick wickets having removed Mofsowitz, Maserow remained steady, finishing 52 not out to take his side to their target. The GB team can be proud of their silver, bouncing back from defeats in their opening two matches, defeating both Israel and SA to secure a spot in the final.

Israel, who started so well with a win in game one over GB and a good performance in defeat in their first game against SA, faded in their final two matches and will be disappointed with their loss to GB and poor display against SA in the second round of matches. Many of the Israel squad will be part of the U19 team which heads to Belgium for the European U19 Championships early next month, no doubt having learnt a lot and enjoyed valuable match practice in the Maccabiah.